Business1 min read

After Covid closed jewellery biz, Bengaluru woman builds Rs 20-lakh bindi brand

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Launched in December 2022 with an initial personal investment of Rs 5 lakh, The Bindi Project doubled its first-year revenue of Rs 10 lakh to reach Rs 20 lakh by FY25. The brand originated as an upcycling initiative utilizing leather scraps, felt, textiles, and surplus inventory from Khanna's former business. Its handcrafted collections, such as Durga, Kalyani, and Ruhaani, cater to both traditional and contemporary styles. Growth has been powered through cultural exhibitions, pop-ups, and direct sales on WhatsApp and Instagram, serving over 1,500 clients nationwide by October 2025.

Key points

  • The brand successfully established a viable market for reusable, statement bindis crafted…: The brand successfully established a viable market for reusable, statement bindis crafted from upcycled materials.
  • An entrepreneur effectively rebounded from closing an 18-year jewellery business by launc…: An entrepreneur effectively rebounded from closing an 18-year jewellery business by launching a sustainable fashion venture.
  • National visibility was accelerated through grassroots pop-up events, social media channe…: National visibility was accelerated through grassroots pop-up events, social media channels, and an appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced Bengaluru entrepreneur Meghna Khanna to shut her handcrafted jewellery business in 2020, she felt she was losing a part of her identity. She had spent 18 years building Levitate, a brand she had started in 2002. Two years later, a conversation about a grandmother's gold bindi gave her an idea for a new business.

In December 2022, Khanna launched The Bindi Project with an initial investment of Rs 5 lakh. The Bengaluru-based venture makes handcrafted, reusable bindis in different shapes, colours and materials. By FY25, the brand had recorded annual revenue of Rs 20 lakh, double its approximately Rs 10 lakh revenue in its first year of operations, according to a report by StartupPedia.

Its designs have also reached Bollywood actors including Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, Sonam Kapoor and Tamannaah Bhatia. Khanna told StartupPedia that stylists working with these actors had recognised the brand and used its bindis for their looks.

The Bindi Project has been featured on Season 5 of Shark Tank India as well.

From a jewellery business to a new beginning

Meghna studied…

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